Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Poster

The F-117, developed in total secrecy, was the first operational platform to employ what is known today as "stealth." Its startling, unconventional shape clearly signified the arrival of a new era in fighter performance through low-observable technology. Operation Desert Storm first saw the potential of an aircraft that could penetrate dense threat environments at night. Comprising 2 to 3 percent of coalition forces, the F-117 accounted for 30 to 35 percent of first-night targets and hit rates of 75 percent in Desert Storm to over 90 percent in Operation Allied Force. The F-117 also sustained the highest mission-capability rates of any deployed fighter or bomber in both conflicts, exceeding 82 percent.